Kenny Miller believes that John Lundstram has taken his game ‘up a level’ since Philippe Clement replaced Mick Beale as Rangers manager with the midfielder outstanding against Real Betis.
One part silk, one part steel. John Lundstram ruled the Rangers midfield like a velvet fist in an iron glove at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
Snapping into tackles and breaking up a Real Betis attack one second, driving forward and dancing through the press the next. Lundstram’s Rangers reputation appeared to be draining away during a difficult spell under Beale but, since Clement arrived to take his place in the Ibrox dugout, the former Sheffield United and Everton ace has rediscovered the form which made him one of the Europa League’s stand-out performers in 2021/22.
John Lundstram shines as Rangers beat Real Betis
“He is one player who’s game has gone up a level since Philippe Clement came in,” former Gers striker Miller tells TNT Sports (14 December, 8pm), Lundstram’s Herculean performance reminiscent of his dynamic displays in that run to the final under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
“He looked a little bit lost in his last year at Rangers and the start of this season. But he’s been one of the big performers over the last 10 or 12 games.
“(Lundstram has had) a similar impact on this team to that Europa league run a couple of seasons back.”
Philippe Clement’s side secure knock-out stage spot
With Abdallah Sima, Cyriel Dessers and substitute Kemar Roofe finding the net, Rangers beat Spanish opposition in Spain for the very first time, and exercised some of the ghosts haunting the club since their last trip to Seville back in May 2022.
Rangers could cap a superb week with their first piece of silverware in the Clement era on Sunday too, the Glasgow giants taking on Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park. A game in which Lundstram is likely to be, if not the very first name on Clement’s team sheet, then certainly one of the first.
